Library arrangement with compartments for portable recording media - enables host controller to access selected record carrier without knowledge of physical configuration of library units

摘要

Each library unit (1a,1b) is provided with a compartment (2) for several record carriers (3) and a first automatic transfer mechanism (6a,6b) for moving a selected item in the compartment or between it and a drive (7) for information recording and reproduction. Second transfer mechanisms (4a,4b) operate independently of each other to move an item from one library unit to the other. Auxiliary controls (10b,10c) for the first transfer mechanism are subordinate to a main control (10a) which converts logical into physical addresses for access to selected items. USE/ADVANTAGE - Guarantees reliable movement between individual library units via path of min. length giving shorter access time.